Monday, November 26, 2007
Happy Anniversary Trixie
Today is Trixie's 13-month anniversary with us. (In all the excitement of October, we overlooked her one-year anniversary.) She joined our happy home on October 26, 2006. She's a bundle of fur who loves to cuddle, chat, and stay warm.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Beau Turns 11
Today is Beau's birthday. We began the day with early morning hockey games.
Afterward, we came home for lunch and presents.
Beau was pleased with his gifts:
A Weird Al CD,
a Star Wars Storm Trooper Blaster (foam dart gun),
a waffle iron,
(and accompanying recipe book),
and a Star Wars Lego kit.
Beau immediately immersed himself in the blissful pastime of Lego-building.
Of course, we made waffles for dinner.
After an indulgent Sunday-night family video-viewing, we capped off the day with an ice cream bombe.
Happy birthday, Beau.
You'll always be my baby.
Afterward, we came home for lunch and presents.
Beau was pleased with his gifts:
A Weird Al CD,
a Star Wars Storm Trooper Blaster (foam dart gun),
a waffle iron,
(and accompanying recipe book),
and a Star Wars Lego kit.
Beau immediately immersed himself in the blissful pastime of Lego-building.
Of course, we made waffles for dinner.
After an indulgent Sunday-night family video-viewing, we capped off the day with an ice cream bombe.
Happy birthday, Beau.
You'll always be my baby.
Casey and the Red Sox
Having lived in New England all their lives, Beau and Casey are born and bred members of Red Sox nation. Beau is a dutiful fan; Casey is fanatic.
From the time he was four years old, Casey's early morning routine during baseball season has been to retrieve the newspaper in his pajamas and return to the table clutching the sports section. First thing to check: did the Red Sox win? Next thing to check: did the Yankees lose? And woe to our household if Sox have lost and the Yankees have won. Next he asks us to read the "how the runs scored" column. (Well, this year he read how the runs scored for himself.)
Casey knows all the players and their numbers. He knows the line-up and the starting pitcher for any given game. And he'll talk strategy with anyone who will listen to him: primarily his father, one of his afterschool teachers, and his orthodontist.
Since Casey was only four in 2004 when the Red Sox won their first World Series Championship in 86 years, he's been spared much of the heartache that fans historically suffered. He does endure his own bit of hell, though, since the regular season games are carried only on cable, and his parents won't pony up for service. Sox fans are nothing if not intrepid, though, and Casey makes do with listening to the radio, befriending the neighbors who do have cable, and watching the highlights on MLB-dot-com.
So, of course, having the Red Sox make the play-offs this year was exciting not only in its own right, but also because those games were shown on broadcast TV. Except...it's never easy to be a Red Sox fan. During the play-offs, first pitch was always right around 8:30 pm -- too late for Casey to be allowed to watch much more than a couple of innings. And when the Sox advanced to the World Series, first pitch was ... yet again ... right at bedtime.
So, I'm sorry to say, that Casey did not get to see his beloved Red Sox win the 2007 World Series, but he was pleased to wake up on Monday, October 29, to learn the happy news.
We didn't go to the victory parade on Tuesday, either, since it was during school hours. But we celebrated in our own way with "victory pie," and "Dice Kream."
It was a very good year in Red Sox Nation.
From the time he was four years old, Casey's early morning routine during baseball season has been to retrieve the newspaper in his pajamas and return to the table clutching the sports section. First thing to check: did the Red Sox win? Next thing to check: did the Yankees lose? And woe to our household if Sox have lost and the Yankees have won. Next he asks us to read the "how the runs scored" column. (Well, this year he read how the runs scored for himself.)
Casey knows all the players and their numbers. He knows the line-up and the starting pitcher for any given game. And he'll talk strategy with anyone who will listen to him: primarily his father, one of his afterschool teachers, and his orthodontist.
Since Casey was only four in 2004 when the Red Sox won their first World Series Championship in 86 years, he's been spared much of the heartache that fans historically suffered. He does endure his own bit of hell, though, since the regular season games are carried only on cable, and his parents won't pony up for service. Sox fans are nothing if not intrepid, though, and Casey makes do with listening to the radio, befriending the neighbors who do have cable, and watching the highlights on MLB-dot-com.
So, of course, having the Red Sox make the play-offs this year was exciting not only in its own right, but also because those games were shown on broadcast TV. Except...it's never easy to be a Red Sox fan. During the play-offs, first pitch was always right around 8:30 pm -- too late for Casey to be allowed to watch much more than a couple of innings. And when the Sox advanced to the World Series, first pitch was ... yet again ... right at bedtime.
So, I'm sorry to say, that Casey did not get to see his beloved Red Sox win the 2007 World Series, but he was pleased to wake up on Monday, October 29, to learn the happy news.
We didn't go to the victory parade on Tuesday, either, since it was during school hours. But we celebrated in our own way with "victory pie," and "Dice Kream."
It was a very good year in Red Sox Nation.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Pam and Bill's Visit
Pam and Bill were here for a visit in October. We were their last stop on a nearly month-long trip that included visiting family in Washington state and then crossing Canada (from Vancouver to Toronto) by train.
Some highlights from their visit with us included a day spent apple-picking and another day visiting Plimoth Plantation. Of course, we also dragged them to a couple of soccer games and one (early morning) hockey game.
Here you see Britt and his parents watching Beau's soccer game on a cool fall morning.
Sunday afternoon, we took a trip to our favorite apple orchard. Here are Pam and Bill and a blur.
It was late in the season for a few varieties. Here Casey and Britt team up to reach the top of a tree.
Casey and his "apple ears."
The Rideout men:
We also picked out pumpkins,
and some of us had ice cream.
Back at home, Beau made an apple pie,
which capped off our early Thanksgiving dinner.
Wednesday, the kids skipped school to join Britt and his parents on a trip to Plimoth Plantation.
Here's Bill making his way out of a traditional Wampanoag home.
Here you see the Rideouts shootin' the breeze with their ancestor.
This was the kids' third visit to Plimoth Plantation since July. We've been watching the progress on this new home that the "pilgrims" are making.
It was a nice visit, and we're looking forward to being together again at Christmas.
Some highlights from their visit with us included a day spent apple-picking and another day visiting Plimoth Plantation. Of course, we also dragged them to a couple of soccer games and one (early morning) hockey game.
Here you see Britt and his parents watching Beau's soccer game on a cool fall morning.
Sunday afternoon, we took a trip to our favorite apple orchard. Here are Pam and Bill and a blur.
It was late in the season for a few varieties. Here Casey and Britt team up to reach the top of a tree.
Casey and his "apple ears."
The Rideout men:
We also picked out pumpkins,
and some of us had ice cream.
Back at home, Beau made an apple pie,
which capped off our early Thanksgiving dinner.
Wednesday, the kids skipped school to join Britt and his parents on a trip to Plimoth Plantation.
Here's Bill making his way out of a traditional Wampanoag home.
Here you see the Rideouts shootin' the breeze with their ancestor.
This was the kids' third visit to Plimoth Plantation since July. We've been watching the progress on this new home that the "pilgrims" are making.
It was a nice visit, and we're looking forward to being together again at Christmas.
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